Curvo Pattern Upholstery Fabric Samples c. 20th century

Editor: This is Otti Berger’s "Curvo Pattern Upholstery Fabric Samples". It’s a simple woven textile, kind of soothing in its repetition. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Berger was deeply embedded in the Bauhaus, where weaving was often relegated to women. Seeing this piece, I think about the tension between craft and fine art, and the gendered expectations placed on artists. How does this work challenge those assumptions in your view? Editor: I guess I hadn't considered that. It seems so…functional, but the careful design elevates it. I see the design now, rather than just the utility. Curator: Exactly. Berger's story also speaks to the diaspora of talent during the rise of Nazism. A powerful reminder of art’s intersection with history and identity. Editor: Thanks, I hadn't thought about it in those terms. Curator: It is a potent blend, right?